Lilongwe Dance seeks to bring dance to the top

Source: The Times Group Malawi
Author: Sam Banda

PRODUCT -- Lilongwe Dance student Tinyade Sharra currently pursuing studies in USA

Lilongwe Dance, a female-led organisation founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Yamikani Matupa Phiri and dancer Leslie Berman from the United States of America (USA), has underscored the importance of dance.

Berman said on Wednesday in an interview that they were happy with the strides they have made to breathe more life into dance for people in the country to embrace it.

"Dance is an equally important art form and it is high time the country took it as a serious career. This is an art discipline that helps build students' creativity, teamwork, self-confidence and other life skills. It also gives people access to new opportunities," she said.

Berman said dance is slowly becoming a way of making an entrepreneurial career.

"Through dance, we are building students' creativity, confidence, life and leadership skills," she said revealing that they reach approximately 150 students per year through classes.

She said they believe that dance education should be available to everyone.

"We aim to break the stigma about who belongs in the dance studio, and the value of a life filled with dance. We want to showcase the role dance can play in enriching childhood and youth development," Berman said.

Among its achievements, Berman said one of its students choreographed and performed for Madonna during her 2021 visit to Malawi.

"We are the subject of a forthcoming documentary Nutcraker which will have its premiere at Scribe Video Centre in USA in May 2024," she said.

Berman said they were looking forward to the premiere of Nutcracker, which recognises the achievements they have made.

"Yamikani and I have been building this programme for the last eight years. We believe so deeply in what dance can do for students, their lives and their community. We have worked incredibly hard but it has been a difficult journey," she said.

Berman said they were hopeful that through the documentary, they would raise more awareness about their programme and the value of dance and creativity for children.